Dwight Anderson and Dexter Mondor named Football Canada Coaches of the Year

Football Canada is pleased to announce that Dwight Anderson has been named the Under-14 Community Coach of the Year while Dexter Mondor has been chosen as the Under-18 Community Coach of the Year.

This is the second year that Football Canada has awarded these honours to coaches who have made a positive contribution to the sport from coast to coast while demonstrating a significant impact in the development of youth on and off the field.

“Our community coaches across the country are vitally important in the lives of young Canadians and the development of our sport,” said Aaron Geisler, Manager of Development. “The hard work, dedication and time they put into the game of football is something we want to recognize and appreciate.”

Dwight Anderson – Football Canada Under-14 Coach of the Year:

Anderson, who is from Moncton, New Brunswick, experienced a busy 2017 season as he did multiple coaching stints. Those included serving as bantam Offensive Coordinator of the Greater Moncton Football Association (GMFA) in the spring, Defensive Line Coach of the provincial under-15 team and Defensive Coordinator for the GMFA Bantam Warriors in the fall.

Additionally, as Head Coach of the GMFA Peewee Raiders, Anderson led the team to the provincial championship.

Along with ongoing NCCP Certification, he also completed Football Canada’s Safe Contact Program.

“Dwight may just be the hardest working volunteer Football New Brunswick has seen in 2017,” a nominee said of Anderson. “What a year he has had.”

“Dwight is a fantastic coach who players respect for his straight approach with teaching and providing feedback. He brings a wealth of personal experience to the field and demands the best from his players. Hard but fair, players learn to be better through discipline and commitment. Dwight has a broad wealth of knowledge covering many positions so he is able to teach many different players the finer points of technique associated with their positions of choice.”

Always striving to be better at his craft, Anderson looks to his peers for support and ongoing feedback.

“He is very good at listening to suggestions and perspectives from fellow coaches and he is very good about challenging them to think outside the traditional coaching box,” added the nominator. “He is especially respectful of the hierarchy that is within coaching staffs and respects them as required.”

However, Anderson’s impact is not just coaching on the field as he has participated in five gear handout nights for GMFA. Moreover, he was generous with his time, coming out to an event where coaches fixed over 50 helmets so they were ready for the start of the season.

Ultimately, Anderson has been a father figure to so many athletes that have been fortunate to be instructed by him. One constant goal that he has is to put those athletes in the best position to succeed in the sport and when it comes to their futures.

“Dwight is excellent at talking to players about their futures, both at high school and university/college level,” the nominator expressed. “He understands now is very important to the future and that is constant in his message.”

“He is as passionate about the development and well-being of his players as much as he is about their success on the field and that says all that needs to be said about the man.”

Dexter Mondor – Football Canada Under-18 Coach of the Year

Since 2012, Mondor, who is from Wawota, Saskatchewan, has been with the Moosomin Generals that compete in the Rural Manitoba Football League (RMFL).

Starting out as an Offensive Coordinator of the Generals, he moved up to take on the role of Head Coach in 2013. Inheriting a team that struggled on the field, Mondor’s leadership was a catalyst in the team’s reversal of fortunes. In 2017, the team made it all the way to the Championship Final.

Additionally, Mondor is the head coach of a high school aged team in Saskatchewan’s Parkland League during the spring months.

Several times during the course of a week, Mondor does a 40 minutes commute from Wawota to Moosomin so he can continue to do the very thing that he is passionate about – coaching.

“He travels there for practices and games multiple times per week as a volunteer,” added the nominator. “He has done this every year during the spring and fall seasons for the love of the game.”

“He also works with our players in the off season and has coached Wawota players in track. His dedication to our players has been tremendous.”

As an advocate for player safety and team growth and improvement, Mondor is a Football Canada Safe Contact program facilitator.

Mondor’s impact is far reaching as his coaching has helped athletes achieve their gridiron goals. He has been instrumental in helping at least six players move on to the next level with both the Regina Thunder of the Prairie Football Conference (PFC) in the Canadian Junior Football League and the Westman Wolverines of the Manitoba Major Junior Football League (MMJFL).

Overall, athletes who have been instructed by Mondor have used the tools he’s given them successfully when it comes to achieving goals beyond their playing career.

“Many players return and thank Dexter for his coaching,” expressed a nominator. “The lessons learned being a part of a team has prepared them for success in life after football.”

“In two players’ cases, Dexter’s guidance took them away from a path of self-destruction.”

Ultimately, Mondor’s work has made a difference to his peers.

“Dexter has made me a better coach,” the nominator said. “His calm manner and method of working with players (never yells at players) combined with strong competitive instinct while maintaining a high level of sportsmanship is something I aspire to become.”